A HIDE TO BABYLON. 365 



him, blindfold, across the planks the captain, with 

 patience quite exhausted and beside himself with 

 wrath, called us all on board, and ordered the 

 steamer to go ahead. As we pushed off from the 

 bank, the feeling that I had parted perhaps for ever 

 and it was for ever from an old friend sat heavy 

 on my heart. On taking a last fond look at my old 

 favourite, it was only too evident that no reciprocal 

 feeling of sorrow crossed that broad breast. There 

 he stood with head erect, snorting defiance at the 

 departing steamer. The groom was standing by, 

 significantly tapping the girdle that wound so 

 tightly around his own slim waist. Xow that I, 

 his "lord and master," was gone from his gaze 

 for ever, who was to put rice into that humble 

 stomach ? 



Reader of mine ! I trust yours is a forgiving 

 nature. I had nearly started you off to Babylon, 

 when I started myself off on the above needless di- 

 gression about a horse; and I cannot even give a 

 reasonable excuse for having thus wandered away 

 from my original subject. When it was known in 

 the bazaars that horses on hire were wanted for 

 Babylon, a man, one Hassan, speedily presented 

 himself at the Residency. The bargain was soon 

 struck, and according to the terms of it we were to 

 be provided with three horses, and some mules to 

 carry the servants and our bedding. Notwithstand- 

 ing the man Hassan's dilating much on the excellent 



